Alexander Teich

Design for Reflection – Smart Devices and Interactive Rituals

Can the ritualisation of personal digital data lead to conscious communication behaviour in the digital world?

Interaction Design

According to the ethnologist Victor Turner, rituals create a framework in which individuals are able to reflect on their own social identity. Rather than creating new rules and codes that have to be adopted by users, I based my work on familiar daily rituals and objects. My design of the “What’s Me Mirror“ featuring “What’s App” has allowed participants to reflect on their digital communication behaviour. The results offer designers insights into how to interweave smart devices into the fabric of daily life.